7 hrs ago
Land Subsidence Disrupts Bengal Train Services, Stranding Travellers
Train services in parts of Bengal stopped after the ground beneath the tracks sank.
The problem happened between New Farakka and Tildanga stations.
Many trains were cancelled or sent along different routes.
People travelling to Calcutta had to search for bus tickets instead.
Some passengers waited in long queues for buses.
One family got off a diverted train at Malda and hired a car to reach Bolpur.
Another train stopped for about five hours near New Farakka.
Travellers were unsure when regular train services would return.
Train movement between New Farakka and Tildanga was halted for almost two days after land subsided along the tracks.
The railways cancelled prominent trains linking north Bengal and the Northeast with Calcutta.
Passengers travelled by bus, hired cars, or waited through lengthy delays to continue their journeys.
A diverted Kulik Express passenger hired a car from Malda after learning the train would not stop at Bolpur.
A Vande Bharat train stopped near New Farakka for about five hours before reaching Howrah at 5:45 a.m.
- Who
- Passengers travelling between north Bengal, the Northeast and Calcutta, including traders, a teacher and students.
- What
- Train services were disrupted, with many trains cancelled, diverted or delayed after land subsided beneath the tracks.
- Where
- The subsidence occurred between New Farakka and Tildanga stations in Bengal, affecting journeys involving places including Siliguri, Malda, Bolpur and Howrah.
- When
- The disruption began early Thursday morning and continued for almost two days; passenger accounts were given on Friday and Saturday travel plans were affected.
- Why
- Land subsidence along the railway tracks halted or disrupted train movement.
Key facts
- Disruption
- Train movement between New Farakka and Tildanga was halted for almost two days.
- Cause
- Subsidence of land along the railway tracks.
- Affected routes
- Connections between north Bengal and the Northeast and Calcutta were affected.
- Alternative transport
- Passengers sought bus tickets at Siliguri’s Tenzing Norgay Central Bus Terminus or hired cars.
- Longest reported delay
- A Vande Bharat train stood near New Farakka for around five hours.
- Arrival time
- The delayed Vande Bharat reached Howrah at 5:45 a.m.
Quotes
Tarak Shil
Trader based in Jalpaiguri
“I booked my train ticket around two months back. Now that the train has been cancelled, I will take a bus to reach Calcutta tomorrow as planned. I was supposed to take the train from Calcutta tomorrow evening but have no idea how I will return”
telegraphindia.com
“My daughter will get admitted to Vishva-Bharati tomorrow. However, as the train reached Malda, we learned that it would be diverted to an alternative route and would not touch Bolpur. We got down in Malda, hired a car and headed for Bolpur”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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